Sunday, April 4, 2004

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Thakur of comedies

Thakur in Malini Iyer: Comic appeal

IT’S difficult to pin him down for long. The fresh-faced Mahesh Thakur, who’s made a habit of picking up winner comedies like Tu Tu Main Main, is once again regaling viewers as Suraj in Shararat (Star Plus) and Pinku in Malini Iyer (Sahara).

"Everyone needs some comic relief after the heavy dose of the saas-bahu stuff," jokes Mahesh, a management graduate from the USA and an actor by choice.

But it’s not just comedy; Thakur is doing intense roles in Astitva—Ek Prem Kahani, Kudrat and Doli Leke Aayee Hai Dulhaniya on Sab TV.

Though, it is the rib-ticklers he enjoys doing the most. Quiz him about him being overshadowed by Sridevi in Malini Iyer, and he is quick to reply, "Yeah, I am overshadowed. After all, this is Sridevi’s comeback serial not mine!"

Badshahs of ballot bulletins

In the nascent days of satellite TV they made a cerebral pair analysing budgets and elections. Then, inexplicably, Prannoy Roy and Vinod Dua parted company.

The good news is that they are together again. Last week, they anchored the nationwide opinion poll, And the Winner is...on NDTV 24X7 and Jeet Uski Janta Jiski on NDTV India.

The opinion poll reflected the views of over 40,000 persons from 200 constituencies across the country and gave serious viewers and news aficionados a glimpse of the direction in which the elections are headed.

Says Roy, "It was a very exciting discussion. Especially, the state-by-state forecasts, breakdowns of caste-based votes, and of course, the big question: Will the Congress pay a penalty for Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin?"

Now, with NDTV having taken the lead with such a massive survey it would be interesting to watch how other channels react. Will they too follow suit with their opinion polls or will they think out different strategies?

Taming of the shrew

She is somewhere between cloud nine and seventh heaven. After playing havoc in people’s lives as Ramola Sikand in Kaahin Kissii Roz, Sudha Chandran is fast turning into a good soul.

"I wanted to wash away all my sins with a positive role. That’s why I am doing Zameen Se Aasman Tak," laughs Sudha."But seriously, it was the challenge that fascinated me—-the challenge of playing two contrasting characters on different channels."

And what made her go for a contrasting role? Apart from liking the script and the character, she says she was very keen to work with its director.

"I’ve been a great Aroona Irani fan since she was a young Bollywood star. I’ve seen most of her movies and have always wanted to act the way she did. So when she offered me the role, I didn’t even bat an eyelid before saying yes," confesses Sudha.

Though she’s over the moon with her new assignment, she is hoping that the evil shadow of Ramola Sikand doesn’t cast its spell over the benign Meera in Zameen Se Aasman Tak on Sahara.

Small is beautiful

Playing Amitabh Bachchan’s son in Baghbaan may have been a promising start to his second innings, but Nasir Khan, son of legendary comedian Johnny Walker, is so bullish about his role in Kabhi Aaye Na Judai that he’s taking to television a big way.

Nasir says he’ll be concentrating on TV and ad films. Ironically, some years ago, even when he was a failure in films he started being snapped up for ad films—Pepsi, Limca, Asian Paints, Nestle Milkmaid, Close Up, Bata Shoes and more.

Nasir’s big regret is that Johnny Walker died sometime before the phenomenal success of Baghbaan or for that matter his top-rated TV serial Kabhi Aaye Na Judai. "The small screen is the big medium and I want to channelise my energies into serious roles."

Serious roles? Being the son of one of India’s greatest comedians, has he never thought of doing comedy? Says Nasir with his trademark chuckle, " Comedy is serious business. My father never took it lightly. No one could match him—-least of all me."

Manish shining

So what if he missed out on a singing assignment in Ram Gopal Varma’s Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. Manish Khullar is in the thick of things after lending his voice to the India Shining campaign.

" I didn’t know the song was to be used in a political campaign. I liked the composition and since it was for a national cause I readily agreed to sing," says Manish.

Although the song is off the air now, it provided an instant fillip to the career of this versatile singer, who now has a flurry of assignments. He’s done jingles for Kelvinator, Hero Honda, and All The Best for the Indian cricket team, and has also cut two albums—Bura Na Mano Holi Hai and Amrit Varsha.

Now comes his third album—-Radha Krishan Sankirtan on Times Music. And it is a runaway success among the devout.

"I am working on my next album that will have a sufiana flavour, a touch of ballet and a feel-good appeal," says Manish, whose world is really shining. NF

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